Blackburn designer watches thief nets £5k haul

CCTV images have been released by police after two designer watches worth more than £5,000 were stolen from a Blackburn pawn-brokers.

The watches including a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date- just watch and a Cartier Santos 100 watch were stolen from Cash Converters in Blackburn town centre.

The thief asked to see the watches, valued at £5,400, before grabbing them and running from the store, down Darwen Street and up Mincing Lane.

It is believed that the man, described as speaking in a local accent, may have got in a blue VW vehicle along Mill Lane, Blackburn.

It is the second incident this month where a thief has targeted a pawn brokers and stolen high value watches.

A shop worker was attacked at Accrington town centre’s Cash Converters when a man took two Rolex watches worth £6,000 on May 11.

Police have now released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to about the Blackburn theft.

The man is described as black, in his late twenties to early thirties, of medium build and around 5ft 6’ins tall.

He was wearing a navy baseball cap, a black top with a zip at the collar and blue denim jeans.

Sgt David Clarke from Blackburn Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing team said: “We are treating this as a serious and high value theft and I appeal for anyone who may have information regarding this
incident, or anyone who has seen a man matching this description at the time of the incident in and around Blackburn town centre to come forward.

“I am also keen to speak with people who believe they may know the identity of this man or have been approached to buy such a watch in the recent days.”

Police have only just released the details of the incident which happened on May 1 shortly after 11.45am.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Sgt David Clarke directly on 01254 353576.

How stupid of the shop staff to have handed over two watches to the thief, when you watch pawn stars on sky the shops always have a mountain sized bloke sat by the door he would not have got away with it there!

How stupid of the shop staff to have handed over two watches to the thief, when you watch pawn stars on sky the shops always have a mountain sized bloke sat by the door he would not have got away with it there!Gaz M